Time to appreciate the Roman Abramovich dynasty

With Chelsea on the cusp of claiming their fifth Premier League title of the Roman Abramovich era, it’s now time to start appreciating what the Russian oligarch has achieved at the club.

Abramovich has ruled with an iron fist, adopting a hiring and firing policy akin to that of Real Madrid and Barcelona, which has resulted in 12 managerial tenures from 10 different managers, as well as a ridiculous amount of trophies. By the end of this season, Chelsea will have won 14 honours in his 14 seasons in charge, which proves that it has worked a treat.

As well as five Premier League titles, which included becoming the only side other than Manchester United to defend a title since the league’s inception, Chelsea have also won four FA Cups, three League Cups, the Europa League, and the Champions League. Some of these have overlapped, and in five different years they’ve been forced to double up by celebrating winning two trophies.

Of course, the naysayers out there will point to the fact that Roman Abramovich has achieved this by splashing an inordinate amount of cash. But just one look at Manchester City’s feeble list of honours in comparison to Chelsea’s proves that’s not always the path to success, as City have won just five trophies (two Premier Leagues, two League Cups and one FA Cup) in the nine seasons since Sheikh Mansour’s billions poured in.

By the end of Abramovich’s ninth season overseeing Chelsea they’d already won double that amount, and they’d had to find room for ten trophies in their Stamford Bridge cabinet. Since 2003, Chelsea have left their other rivals in the dust when it comes to lifting silverware, as only Manchester United, currently with 11 (five Premier Leagues, three League Cups, two FA Cups and one Champions League), but maybe 12 if they win the Europa League, can rival their haul of 14. In this time Arsenal have claimed just four trophies (Premier League and three FA Cups), Liverpool three (FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League), and Tottenham one in the shape of the League Cup.

Even if you just consider the years since Manchester City have been toying with their riches Chelsea are on top, as after 2008 they have picked up nine trophies, while Manchester United have seven, maybe eight, then come City with five, Arsenal with two, Liverpool with one, while Tottenham have zilch. That’s also not including the fact that Chelsea might make it 10, or Arsenal three, depending on who wins the FA Cup.

Anyway you look at it, though, Chelsea have been hugely impressive in keeping up their winning mentality. Especially since their spending over the last five seasons has not only been close to £100million less than Manchester United and Manchester City, but they’ve also pulled in close to £300million more in transfer sales during this time, meaning their net spend is even below the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool.

All of which has been achieved while still winning trophy after trophy after trophy, as, in less than a decade and a half, Roman Abramovich has turned Chelsea from also-rans into the dominant force in English football.